A Villager's Vengeance: Seabrook Haven Book Club Cozy Mystery (Watson the Wonder Dog Cozy Mystery 4) by Rosie Sams

Author:Rosie Sams
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Sweet Book Hub
Published: 2024-12-18T00:00:00+00:00

NASTY NOTES

IZZY CROSSED her arms and leaned against the ornate mantelpiece in the Eldritch Estate’s green drawing room, watching Daisy Eldritch fidget with the hem of her floral blouse. Watson sat alert by Izzy’s feet, his head tilting every time Daisy shifted uncomfortably. Izzy had seen this kind of body language before—guilt wrapped in nervous energy. But the guilt didn’t have to be from murder.

Daisy avoided eye contact, focusing on the intricate patterns in the carpet. “I told you, I wasn’t anywhere near the rose garden during the festival.”

Watson let out a dramatic snort that sounded suspiciously like liar, liar, pants on fire. Izzy glanced down at him, biting back a smile. “Watson doesn’t seem convinced,” she said lightly, her gaze sharpening as she studied Daisy.

Daisy glared at the dog. “Since when do dogs give testimonials?”

Izzy straightened, her voice calm but insistent. “Daisy, Watson has a better nose for the truth than most people I know. And right now, he’s telling me you’re not being entirely honest.”

Daisy flushed and tried to hold her ground. “Fine, so I walked by the garden. But that doesn’t mean anything.”

Watson, now standing on all fours, tilted his head again and grumbled in a series of snorts and low woofs. Izzy cocked an eyebrow. “He says you’re still lying.”

Daisy threw her hands up. “All right, all right! I was meeting someone, okay? But you can’t tell Aunt Eleanor—it’d be a disaster!”

Izzy’s expression softened, though her curiosity remained sharp. “Who were you meeting, Daisy?”

Daisy hesitated, then sighed dramatically. “Matthew. Matthew James, the stable hand. We’ve been... seeing each other for a while now. But Aunt Eleanor would absolutely have a hissy fit if she found out. You know how she feels about ‘staff relationships.’ She still brings up that time the cook eloped with a footman in 1922! 1922!”

Izzy leaned in slightly, her tone encouraging. “So, you were with Matthew the whole time?”

Daisy nodded, her cheeks flushed. “Yes. We were by the stables the entire time. You can ask him.”

Watson plopped down on the carpet and muttered, “Stable hands and roses. People are always up to something ridiculous.” Izzy chuckled under her breath before catching herself and coughing to cover it.

Daisy narrowed her eyes. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,” Izzy said quickly, waving a hand. “It’s just... a frog in my throat.”

Before Daisy could respond, Geri Baxter, the retired nurse and book club’s resident straight-shooter, walked into the room, clutching a freezer bag filled with crumpled rose leaves. “Well, I’ve got news,” she announced, her tone brisk and authoritative.

Izzy gestured toward her. “And? What did you find?”

Geri dropped the bag onto the table with a flourish. “The leaves weren’t poisoned. Whatever was on them was harmless—just something sticky and bitter-tasting. It made them smell pretty horrid, too.”

Maggie, who’d been quietly sipping tea by the window, raised an eyebrow. “So, no murder weapon there. Just someone playing games?”

Geri shrugged. “Looks like it. Maybe someone wanted to discourage sniffing around, literally and figuratively.”

Izzy frowned. “But why? Who would anyone bother doing something like that?”

Watson grumbled.

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